An epic among epics

Rating: 9/10 (9 June 2014)

WW2 dramas do not get more epic than this. Massive in its scale, involving every nation and almost every operation and type of unit that took part in Operation Overlord. Thanks to this you get a true sense of all the planning, men and materiel involved in the invasion, and how they all fit together. By showing the German side you also see how the enemy feels, and how wrong-footed they were.
Not as realistically gory as Saving Private Ryan - such realism would never gave gotten past the 1960s censors - but such micro-detailed realism is not necessary here. The picture is more a strategic one, though you often get to see it from the eyes of average soldiers.
Mostly quite accurate, but there are some mildly-annoying inaccuracies. The portrayal of 27-year old Lt Colonel Benjamin Vandervoort by the 55- year old John Wayne is probably the pick of the bunch. Once the action starts, however, the mild inaccuracies are quickly forgotten, as you immerse yourself in reliving an event of massive historical significance.
In fitting with the epic nature of the movie, just about every actor in it with dialogue is a major star. About the only male superstars of the time missing are Frank Sinatra, Marlon Brando and Orson Welles! Some of them, eg George Segal, Sean Connery, Robert Wagner, have very minor parts and only have a handful of lines, but it shows just how deep the talent pool was in the cast of the movie.
Stirring, incredible, epic war drama.